UNiv  OF  CALii 

LOS  ANGELES 

SEP  23  1952 

LIBRARY 
GOVT.  PUBS.  ROOM 


*I 


Issued  May  25,  1911 


U.  S.  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE, 
BUREAU  OF  STATISTICS— Circular  19. 

VICTOR  H.  OLMSTED,  Chief  of  Bureau. 


FOREIGN  CROPS,  MAY,  1911 


PREPARED  BY 


CHARLES  M.  DAUGHERTY, 
Chief  of  the  Division  of  Research  and  Reference. 


94835° -11  WASHINGTON 


PRINTING  OFFICE  :  19 


ocjn 

no, 

FOREIGN  CROPS,  MAY,  1911. 


INTRODUCTION. 


Excepting  the  partial  failure  of  the  corn  crop  in  Argentina  and 
Uruguay  and  a  backward  state  of  vegetation  and  spring  seeding  in 
almost  all  Europe,  the  foreign  crop  situation  at  the  end  of  April  was 
in  all  its  diverse  phases  fairly  satisfactory.  Excellent  sowing  weather 
has  been  experienced  in  Argentina,  and  the  areas  laid  down  to  wheat, 
flaxseed,  and  oats  are  probably  the  most  extensive  in  her  history; 
corn  husking,  now  drawing  to  a  close,  has,  however,  given  the  worst 
results  in  several  years,  and  former  estimates  of  an  export  surplus  of 
20,000,000  bushels  are  now  generally  regarded  as  too  high.  The  small 
corn  crop  of  Uruguay  is  also  reported  a  failure.  In  Australia  it  is 
doubtful  if  a  full  area  has  been  sown  to  winter  wheat,  seeding  having 
been  widely  interrupted  by  rains.  The  harvest  of  wheat  and  oilseeds 
in  British  India  has  with  few  exceptions  made  satisfactory  progress, 
and  by  virtue  of  increased  areas  outturns  are  expected  to  equal  or 
even  surpass  those  of  the  most  prolific  years.  In  Canada  the  sowing 
of  spring  wheat  has  been  in  active  progress;  on  probably  80  per  cent 
of  the  land  intended  for  this  cereal  the  seed  was  in  the  soil  on  May  1, 
the  total  promising  largely  to  exceed  all  previous  records. 

Over  almost  all  Europe  temperatures  during  early  April  were 
abnormally  low;  frosts  and  heavy  snowfalls  in  many  countries 
checked  the  development  of  vegetation  and  brought  spring  field 
work  temporarily  to  a  standstill.  As  a  consequence  vegetation  and 
farming  operations  are  almost  everywhere  more  or  less  in  arrears. 
In  Great  Britain  wheat  is  officially  stated  to  cover  an  area  5  per  cent 
greater  than  last  year;  the  condition,  though  not  of  the  best,  is 
pretty  well  up  to  average.  In  France  unseasonable  cold,  with  heavy 
snows,  early  in  the  month  interfered  widely  with  farming  operations; 
much  injury  was  done  to  early  fruits  and  vegetables,  but  growing 
cereals  are  said  to  have  been  effectively  protected  by  the  snow.  The 
area  under  wheat  is  believed  to  show  some  decrease,  but  the  condi- 
tion is  better  than  at  the  same  date  last  year.  Although  the  cold 
weather  also  extended  over  Spain  and  Italy,  there  are  no  definite 
reports  of  damage  to  the  staple  crops. 

In  central  Europe  the  general  agricultural  situation,  though  fairly 
satisfactory,  in  not  so  promising  as  at  the  corresponding  period  a 

[Clr.  19]  (3) 


year  ago.  In  Germany  the  condition  of  winter  wheat  is  officially 
rated  average,  but  the  much  more  important  bread  grain,  rye,  is 
under  average,  while  the  appearance  of  clover  and  alfalfa  is  the  worst 
in  years.  Winter  cereals  in  Austria  are  somewhat  backward,  and 
the  spring-sown  show  unsatisfactory  germination.  In  Hungary 
wheat  was  damaged  by  field  mice  and  frost  during  the  winter  to  the 
extent  of  10.3  per  cent,  representing  a  loss  of  probably  15,000,000 
bushels.  From  the  Balkan  States  there  are  no  serious  complaints, 
but  reports  are  not  so  roseate  as  at  this  time  last  year,  when  predic- 
tions were  already  being  made  of  the  most  bountiful  season  the  coun- 
try had  ever  known. 

In  so  far  as  known,  cereals  in  Russia  seem  to  have  wintered  well, 
excepting  in  parts  of  some  of  the  southern  governments,  where  more 
or  less  extensive  replowings  were  necessary.  Winter  was  prolonged 
over  practically  the  entire  country  until  mid-April.  Spring  sowings 
were  everywhere  much  delayed,  and  some  apprehension  is  felt 
respecting  the  possible  consequences  to  the  important  spring  wheat 
crop  in  case  of  droughty  weather  later  in  the  season. 

CANADA. 

All  indications  point  to  a  heavy  increase  of  spring-wheat  acreage 
in  Saskatchewan,  Alberta,  and  Manitoba.  Various  causes  have  made 
this  result  probable.  Immigration  has  been  exceptional;  over  48,000 
homestead  entries  were  made  during  the  last  year,  and  a  wide  extent 
of  new  ground  has  been  brought  under  the  plow.  Seeding  about  a 
fortnight  later  than  a  year  ago,  but  favored,  with  rare  exceptions,  by 
almost  ideal  conditions  of  soil  and  weather,  was  mostly  completed 
by  May  1.  It  is  officially  stated  that  Manitoba  and  Saskatchewan 
had  70  per  cent  of  the  proposed  area  sown  at  the  end  of  April  and 
Alberta  and  British  Columbia  80  per  cent.  Estimates  of  a  25  per 
cent  increase  over  the  area  sown  in  1910  are  common;  should  they 
be  verified  over  ten  and  one-half  million  acres  will  be  under  wheat 
in  the  three  provinces  this  year.  The  surface  under  flaxseed,  it  is 
believed,  will  also  be  heavily  augmented. 

In  the  eastern  Provinces  of  the  Dominion,  excepting  the  unimpor- 
tant producer  Nova  Scotia,  the  culture  of  wheat  is  on  the  decline, 
the  area  having  fallen  from  1,676,000  acres  in  1890  to  899,000  in  1910, 
whereas  during  the  same  period  the  acreage  in  the  western  Provinces, 
not  including  British  Columbia,  increased  from  1,010,000  to  8,396,000 
acres.  The  statement  following  shows  the  development  of  the  wheat- 
growing  industry  and  of  the  wheat-export  movement  in  the  Domin- 
ion during  the  past  20  years,  as  indicated  by  census  reports  for  1890 
and  1900  and  estimates  of  the  Dominion  Department  of  Agriculture 
for  1908,  1909,  and  1910. 

[Cir.  19] 


Total  area  and  production  of  wheat  in  the  Dominion  of  Canada,  and  exports  of  wheat  and 
wheat  flour  therefrom,  in  specified  years. 


Area  and  production. 

Exports. 

Calendar 

year. 

Area  sowd. 

Production. 

Year 

ended 

June  30. 

Wheat. 

Wheat  flour. 

1890 
1900 

1908  i 

1909  i 
1910' 

Acres. 
2,701,213 
4,224,542 
6,610,300 
7,750,400 
9, 294, 800 

Bushels. 

42.223,372 

55,572,368 

112,434,000 
166, 744, 000 
149,990,000 

1891 
1901 
1909 
1910 
1911  * 

Bushels. 
2,108,216 
9,739,758 
47,840,324 
53,045,620 
32,240,622 

Barrels. 
I,5s3,084 
1,811,869 
1,953.884 
3,314,356 
2,045,812 

1  Not  including  British  Columbia. 

2  Eight  months  ended  February,  1911. 

Winter  wheat,  it  may  be  added,  is  produced  to  a  noteworthy 
extent  in  the  Dominion  only  in  Ontario  and  Alberta;  the  respective 
areas  sown  last  fall  for  harvest  in  1911  have  been  officially  estimated 
at  682,500  and  107,800  acres,  against  609,200  and  98,000  last  year. 
The  May  10  report  of  the  Dominion  Department  of  Agriculture  says : 
In  Ontario  April  frosts  were  destructive  in  some  regions;  and  from  12  to  34  per  cent 
of  the  area  sown  has  been  reported  as  winter-killed.  The  central  counties  north  of 
Lake  Ontario  suffered  worst,  the  average  loss  as  reported  being  34  per  cent.  In  the 
western  counties  27  per  cent  of  the  area  in  crop  has  been  destroyed.  In  the  southern 
counties  north  of  Lake  Erie  the  loss  is  10  per  cent;  in  the  northern  counties  and  dis- 
tricts, 12.6  per  cent;  and  in  the  eastern  counties,  between  the  St.  Lawrence  and 
Ottawa  Rivers.  15  per  cent.  For  the  whole  of  Canada  the  area  winter-killed  is  reported 
to  be  21  per  cent,  and  the  per  cent  condition  of  the  growing  crop  is  82. 

ARGENTINA. 

From  the  fact  that  20  years  ago  the  acreage  under  wheat  in  Argen- 
tina was  approximately  the  same  as  that  in  Canada,  it  is  of  interest 
to  contrast  the  subsequent  development  of  each  country  in  the  culti- 
vation and  exportation  of  this  cereal.  Below  are  the  official  figures 
on  the  area,  production,  and  export  of  wheat  in  Argentina  for  prac- 
tically the  same  years  as  shown  above  for  Canada: 

Total  area  and  production  of  vjheat  in  Argentina,  and  exports  of  wheat  and  wheat  flour 
therefrom,  in  specified  years. 


Area  and  production. 

Exports. 

Crop  year. 

Area  sown. 

Production. 

Calendar 
year. 

Wheat. 

Wheal  flour. 

1890-91 

1. -ni 

1908-09 
1909-10 
1910-11 

Acres. 

2,970,656 
8,351,360 
14,981,920 

14,422,100 
15,451,000 

Bushels. 
31,048,117 
74.752.034 
156,162,327 
131,010,000 
139,625,000 

1891 
1901 
1909 
1910 
1911 

Bushels. 
14.534,009 
33,226,692 
92,377,517 

69, 209, 499 

Barrels. 

78,904 

806. 951 

1,310,241 

1,29S,104 

Within  the  20-year  period  twelve  and  one-half  million  acres  have 
been  added  to  the  wheat  fields  of  Argentina  and  only  six  and  one- 
half  million  to  those  of  Canada,  the  areas  in  1910  having  been,  respec- 

[Cir.   19] 


tively,  15,452,000  and  9,295,000  acres.  The  figures  on  production  are 
not  so  accurate  an  index  of  the  relative  advance  in  wheat  culture, 
since  the  frequent  occurrence  of  drought  in  one  or  the  other  country 
often  vitiates  the  value  of  these  figures  as  a  measure  of  comparative 
progress.  As  would  naturally  be  expected,  Argentina  is  regularly 
the  more  important  exporter.  The  population  of  Argentina  is  about 
6,500,000,  and  of  Canada  about  seven  and  three-fourths  millions;  the 
domestic  wheat  requirement,  including  seed,  of  the  former  is  probably 
greater  than  that  of  the  latter  by  only  a  few  million  bushels. 

The  1910-11  wheat  crop  of  Argentina  has  turned  out  somewhat 
better  than  anticipated.  A  revised  estimate  (April  20)  of  the  Argen- 
tine Ministry  of  Agriculture  now  puts  the  yield  at  139,625,000 
bushels — preliminary  estimate  last  December,  136,318,000  bushels — 
and  final  figures  for  1909-10,  131,010,000  bushels.  The  provisional 
estimate  (26,967,000  bushels)  of  the  1910-11  flaxseed  crop  has  been 
reduced  to  23,620,000  bushels,  against  definite  figures  for  the  previous 
year  of  28,212,000  bushels.  As  corn  gathering  progressed  during 
March  and  April,  pessimism  respecting  the  outcome  became  inten- 
sified, popular  belief  becoming  more  and  more  confirmed  that,  in 
consequence  of  the  damage  from  drought,  there  would  be  little  surplus 
for  export.  In  recent  ye«ars  the  exports  of  corn  have  largely  exceeded 
those  from  the  United  States,  as  may  be  seen  from  the  following 
statement: 

Production  of  corn  in  Argentina,  and  exports  thereof  as  compared  with  those  jrom  the 

United  States. 

[Bushels  of  56  pounds.] 


Calendar 
year. 

Production, 
Argentina. 

Exports. 

From 
Argentina. 

From 
United  States. 

1910.... 

1909.... 
1908.... 
1907.... 
1906.... 

175,330,000 
177,157,000 
136, 057, 000 
71,768,000 
194, 912, 000 

104,812,000 
89, 499, 359 
67,390,278 
50, 262, 705 

106, 047, 790 

42,692,961 
36.205,650 

37,577,717 
83,200,S72 
102,518,817 

During  corn  harvest,  field  work  preparatory  to  getting  in  the 
autumn-sown  wheat,  flaxseed,  and  oats  was  in  full  swing.  The 
weather  is  reported  to  have  been  generally  propitious,  opportune 
rains  kept  the  soil  for  the  most  part  in  good  workable  condition, 
much  new  ground  is  said  to  have  been  broken  in  the  Pampa  and 
Cordoba,  and  confidence  is  expressed  that  the  total  area  sown  to 
each  of  the  above-named  crops  will  exceed  that  of  any  previous 
year. 

AUSTRALIA. 

Plowing  for  winter  wheat,  which  began  early  in  April,  has  suffered 
considerable  interruption  in  some  districts  from  excessive  rains,  and 

[Cir.  19] 


in  the  eastern  States  of  the  Commonwealth  it  is  said  the  land  seeded 
may  be  somewhat  curtailed.  In  Western  Australia  wheat  culture  is 
likely  again  to  undergo  extension. 


NEW    ZEALAND. 


The  official  preliminary  estimate  of  the  yields  of  grain  for  the 
current  season,  with  a  comparison  of  the  actual  yields  for  the  pre- 
vious season,  is  given  below : 

Area  and  production  oj  grain  in  New  Zealand. 


Crops. 

Year. 

Area. 

Production. 

Per  acre. 

Total. 

Wheat 

1910-11 
1909-10 

1910-11 
1909-10 

1910-11 
1909-10 

A  ores. 
27 '4, 533 
311,000 

353,997 
377,000 

32,969 
41,500 

Bushels.* 
26.10 
28.97 

38.11 
37.01 

28.08 
30.51 

Bushels.1 
7,164,181 

Oats 

9,008,322 
13,492,423 

13,953.128 
925,682 

1,266,098 

1  Winchester  bushels  reduced  from  imperial  bushels. 


BRITISH    INDIA. 

Harvest  of  wheat  and  oil  seeds,  now  nearing  an  end,  has  been 
favored  by  good  weather,  excepting  occasional  heavy  rains  and  high 
winds  in  the  United  Provinces  and  the  Punjab;  prospects  of  a 
bumper  crop  in  this,  in  point  of  area,  the  third  largest  wheat-pro- 
ducing country  of  the  world,  are  well  maintained.  The  acreage 
exceeds  all  previous  records  but  one.  The  highest  yield  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  country  was  360,000,000  bushels  in  1904,  out  of  which 
there  were  exported  80,000,000  bushels.  The  statistical  history  of 
the  production  and  exportation  of  wheat  for  the  past  few  years  is  as 
below: 

Production  and  exports  of  wheat  in  British  India. 


Area  and  production. 

Exports. 

Calendar 
year. 

Area. 

Production. 

Year 
ended 
Mar.  31. 

Wheat. 

Wheat 
flour. 

1911 

1910 
1909 
1908 
1907 
1906 
1905 
1904 

Acres. 
i  28,973,000 
27,919,000 
26,149,000 
28,824,500 
29,212,500 
26,357,400 
28,470,200 
28, 413, 700 

Bushels. 

1912 
1911 
1910 
1909 
1908 
1907 
1906 
1905 

Bushels. 

Barrels. 

357,941,000 
2S4,361,000 
227,983,000 
317,023,000 
319,952,000 
283,063,000 
359,936,000 

C-) 
39,221,437 
4,097,002 
32,870,475 
29, 920, 639 
35,004,872 
80,267,604 

(2) 
265,275 
227,817 
281,657 
309,688 
340, 183 
390, 228 

[Cir.  19] 


1  Preliminary  estimate. 


*  Data  not  yet  available. 


GREAT   BRITAIN. 

The  wintry  weather  of  March  continued  up  to  mid-April,  seriously 
hampering  field  work  and  retarding  the  growth  of  vegetation,  but 
warmth  and  sunshine  the  latter  half  of  the  month  expedited  the 
seeding  of  nearly  all  land  intended  for  grain.  Probably  owing  to 
additional  sowings  in  February,  the  area  under  wheat  has  been 
officially  returned  as  5  per  cent  larger  than  last  year.  The  condi- 
tion of  the  autumn-sown  fields  is  said  to  be  fairly  promising,  the 
principal  exceptions  being  on  those  sown  late,  that  is,  after  the 
heavy  downpours  of  last  November.  February  sowings  are  described 
as  presenting  an  appearance  of  robust  vitality.  Oats  is  believed  to 
have  been  sown  on  a  much  larger  and  barley  on  a  smaller  area  than 
last  year.  Excepting  for  a  somewhat  retarded  state  of  vegetation 
general  prospects  are  quite  satisfactory. 

FRANCE. 

Unseasonably  low  temperature  prevailed  intermittently  throughout 
a  great  part  of  April.  Snow,  rain,  hail,  and  sleet  were  reported  from 
all  regions  within  the  first  10  days  of  the  month,  and  in  some  places 
the  mercury  fell  lower  than  in  any  April  in  40  years.  In  the  south 
early  vegetables,  vineyards,  and  early  flowering  fruit  trees,  such  as 
almonds,  apricots,  and  peaches,  were  seriously  attainted  by  frost, 
but  owing  to  a  fortuitous  covering  of  snow  over  most  of  the  country 
no  extensive  damage  seems  to  have  been  done  the  cereals.  Subse- 
quent weather  permitted  resumption  of  the  interrupted  sowing  of 
spring  oats,  barley,  and  wheat,  and  the  preparation  of  the  soil  for 
planting  sugar  beets  and  potatoes,  but  continued  low  temperatures, 
with  white  frosts  up  to  near  the  end  of  the  month,  caused  constant 
anxiety  over  the  fate  of  the  more  tender  vegetation.  Notwithstand- 
ing widespread  apprehensions,  the  agricultural  situation  at  the  end 
of  the  month  was  on  the  whole  spoken  of  rather  favorably — certainly 
more  hopefully  than  at  the  same  time  last  year.  Winter  wheat 
probably  covers  a  reduced  area;  the  early  sown,  the  bulk  of  the  crop, 
is  spoken  of  in  general  as  having  a  promising  appearance;  but  that 
sown  in  December  and  January  is  said  in  some  localities,  especially 
of  the  west,  north,  and  east,  to  have  a  thin  stand,  because  of  poor 
germination.  The  condition  of  winter  rye,  which  likewise  probably 
covers  a  surface  less  than  last  year,  is  satisfactory;  that  of  winter 
oats  poor.  The  sowing  of  spring  cereals,  notwithstanding  some  delay 
from  inclement  weather,  was  practically  finished  by  mid-April,  or 
earlier  than  last  year.  Early  growth  was  vigorous,  but  owing  to  a 
period  of  drought  and  heat  in  the  closing  days  of  the  month,  late 
reports  were  less  optimistic. 

The  French  Ministry  of  Agriculture  has  recently  issued  its  final 
estimates  of  the  area  and  production  of  cereals  in  1910;  wheat  has 

[Cir.   19] 


yielded  9,183,000,   and  rye  6,769,000   measured  bushels  less   than 
originally  estimated.     The  official  data  follow: 


Final  area  and  production  of  grain  crops  oj  France  in  1910. 

Crops. 

Area. 

Production. 

By  measure. 

By  weight. 

Wheat 

Acres. 
16,209,500 
1,081,000 
3, 004, 200 
1,850,200 
9,766,700 

Bushels.1 
259,181,000 
5,436,000 
44,981,000 
43, 676, 000 
296,088,000 

Bushels* 
254,507,000 

5,327,000 

Rye 

44,913,000 

44,842,000 

342,875,000 

Oats 

i Winchester  bushels. 


1  Bushels:  Wheat  GO,  maslin  58,  rye  56,  barley  48,  and  oats  32  pounds. 


SPAIN. 

Rather  vague  complaints  of  crop  damage,  due  to  low  temperatures 
and  frosts,  have  been  reported  from  some  districts. 

ITALY. 

Although  abnormal  weather  for  these  latitudes — snow  in  the  north 
and  night  frosts  in  the  south — was  experienced  in  early  April,  there 
have  been  few  noteworthy  complaints  respecting  the  state  of  either 
the  autumn  or  spring  sown  crops.  Ample  moisture  to  facilitate  the 
preparation  of  the  soil  and  seasonable  development  of  vegetation  are 
reported  from  most  districts. 

GERMANY. 

In  the  report  of  the  Imperial  Statistical  Office  on  the  mid-April 
condition  of  crops  in  Germany,  it  is  stated  that  the  snowfalls  of  the 
winter  of  1910-11  were  of  moderate  proportions  and  short  duration. 
Spring  set  in  early,  with  summerlike  days  in  March.  Early  April  was 
unseasonably  cold,  warm  weather  resuming  sway  only  during  the 
latter  half  of  the  month.  Respecting  the  state  of  the  crops,  the  report 
is  not  especially  assuring.  The  late  sown  are  said  to  have  developed 
poorly,  having  suffered  from  April  frosts  and  from  ravages  of  field 
mice.  Replanting  will  be  necessary  on  an  extensive  scale,  but  the 
extent  can  not  be  known  until  the  issuance  of  the  May  report.  Below 
are  the  official  figures: 

Crop  conditions  in  Germany  April  15. 
[1— very  good;  2=good;  3=  medium;  4=  poor;  5=  very  poor.] 


Crops. 


Nov.  15, 
1910. 

Apr.  15, 
1910. 

Apr.  15, 
1909. 

Apr.  15, 
1908. 

82.6 
2.7 

2.2 
2.4 
2.3 
2.4 

3.1 
3.0 
2.8 
2.7 

2.5 
2.6 
2.5 
2.5 





Average 
Apr.  15, 
1901-1910. 


Winter  wheat 
Winter  rye... 

Clover 

Alfalfa 


[Cir.  19] 


2.7 
2.6 
2.6 
2.5 


10 

AUSTRIA. 

According  to  the  Austrian  Ministry  of  Agriculture,  wheat,  rye, 
clover,  and  alfalfa  emerged  from  the  winter  in  good  condition,  but 
cold  weather  in  early  April  retarded  growth.  At  the  date  to  which 
the  report  refers  (April  15),  potato  planting  had  for  the  most  part 
been  finished,  corn  planting  was  still  in  progress,  and  the  sowing  of 
spring  barley  and  oats  had  just  begun.  Owing  to  the  low  tempera- 
ture the  spring-sown  cereals  had  germinated  poorly,  and  barley, 
when  up,  had  lost  color.  Hops  wintered  well  and  are  in  good  con- 
dition. 

HUNGARY. 

Wheat  prospects  deteriorated  considerably  during  the  winter,  the 
Ministry  of  Agriculture  on  April  9  putting  the  loss  at  10.3  per  cent. 
The  greater  proportion  is  attributed  to  the  ravages  of  field  mice,  the 
loss  from  that  cause  being  7.2  per  cent  and  from  winterkill  only  3.1. 
The  surface  under  wheat  shows  some  increase  on  both  sides  of  the 
Danube,  but  elsewhere  a  small  decline.  Rye,  barley,  and  oats  are 
believed  to  cover  a  diminished  area,  as  compared  with  last  year. 
Wintry  weather,  with  snow  and  night  frosts,  were  reported  from  all 
parts  of  the  country  during  a  great  part  of  April.  Farm  work  and 
spring  sowings  were  interrupted,  but  no  losses  of  an  irreparable 
character  are  believed  to  have  been  incurred. 

ROUMANIA. 

The  weather  during  April  was  warm  and  spring-like  with  plentiful 
showers  over  the  greater  part  of  the  country,  and  work  in  the  fields 
progressed  under  favorable  circumstances.  Corn  planting  is  now  in 
progress.  Autumn-sown  grain,  especially  wheat,  is  generally  spoken 
of  as  looking  well,  although  in  some  districts  reso wings  were  necessary. 
Crop  prospects  are  in  general  satisfactory. 

BULGARIA. 

The  German  consul  at  Varna  reported  April  6  that  notwithstand- 
ing repeated  frosts  and  snow  in  March,  crops  in  that  district  were 
everywhere  satisfactory.  The  winter  was  on  the  whole  favorable 
for  spring  sowings,  then  in  full  progress  or  even  in  some  places 
ended,  excepting  in  the  case  of  corn  and  beans,  the  planting  of  which 
had  not  begun. 

RUSSIA. 

The  striking  feature  of  the  beginning  of  the  agricultural  season  of 
1911  has  been  the  late  advent  of  spring  throughout  the  entire  country. 
During  the  first  half  of  April  farm  work  was  almost  everywhere  inter- 

[Cir.   19] 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


11 


rupted  by  heavy  falls  of  snow,  and,  though  subsequently  there  was 
fine  weather,  sowings  are  much  in  arrears.  In  many  places  opera- 
tions were  only  begun  at  a  date  that  in  ordinary  years  marks  their 
completion.  The  delay  is  undesirable  in  that  it  may  jeopardize  the 
chances  of  the  spring  crops,  particularly  the  important  spring  wheat 
crop,  becoming  well  rooted  before  the  heated  season  sets  in.  The 
general  impression  seems  to  be  that  excepting  in  some  southern  gov- 
ernments, notably  Bessarabia,  Kherson,  the  Crimea,  the  Don  terri- 
tory, and  a  few  others,  winter  cereals  have  successfully  passed  through 
the  rigors  of  winter.  The  central  statistical  committee,  in  a  report 
early  in  April,  relating  to  61  governments,  stated  that  snow  cover 
during  the  winter  had  been  sufficient  in  19,  not  quite  sufficient  in  25, 
and  entirely  insufficient  in  17  governments,  but  no  definite  figures 
are  available  indicating  the  amount  of  damage  done  on  unprotected 
territory. 

EUROPEAN    TURKEY. 

The  director  of  statistics  in  the  Turkish  Ministry  of  Agriculture, 
Mines,  and  Forests  has  recently  issued  a  report  on  agricultural  pro- 
duction, covering  all  of  European  Turkey  except  one  vilayet,  and  cer- 
tain mountainous  districts  in  another  from  which  returns  had  not  yet 
arrived.  Although  European  Turkey  comprises  less  than  6  per  cent 
of  the  area,  it  contains  nearly  25  per  cent  of  the  population  of  the 
Ottoman  Empire ;  and  the  statistics  of  its  production  have,  therefore, 
an  interest  considerably  in  excess  of  that  which  they  would  derive 
from  its  mere  territorial  extent. 

Area,  production,  and  value  of  cereals  in  European  Turkey. 


Crops. 


Wheat 

Rye 

Barley 

Oats 

Corn 

Other  cereals . 


Total. 


Area  (acres). 


1,001,225 
258, 845 
510,677 
297, 187 
726, 568 
157, 363 


3,011,865 


Product 
(bushels). : 


19,461,778 
5,808,165 

13, 443, 431 
6,526,483 

16,658,136 
2,989,770 


64,887,763 


Value. 


$19, 530, 370 
4, 440, 537 
8, 360, 743 
2, 605, 095 
11,902,963 
1,687,272 


48, 532, 980 


1  Bushels  of  capacity. 

Peas,  beans,  lentils,  and  chick  peas  (dry),  with  potatoes  added, 
amounting  to  52,315,200  pounds,  and  worth  $877,978,  were  grown  on 
86,591  acres.     Other  crops  grown  are: 


Crops. 


Acres. 


Product 
(pounds). 


Tobacco |  62, 415 

Cotton,  flax,  and  hemp 24,895 

Sesame,  opium,  canary  seed 54,278 

[Cir.  19] 


49,177,190 
9,262,717 
19, 947, 863 


12 

These,  with  the  addition  of  olives,  olive  oil,  and  cocoons,  for  which 
areas  are  given,  are  valued  at  $6,591,451.  Grapes,  wine,  and  brandy, 
valued  at  $3,319,847,  were  obtained  from  181,035  acres  in  vines. 
Fruit  trees  yielded  $50,190,  and  animals  and  animal  products, 
$14,131,847.  The  grand  total  is  $73,504,293,  of  which  the  cereals 
contributed  nearly  two-thirds. 

Approved: 

James  Wilson, 

Secretary  of  Agriculture. 

Washington,  D.  C,  May  10,  1911. 

[Cir.  19] 

o 


